Enchanted Winter Skies

Experience the unforgettable dawn liftoff of Sandhill Cranes, Snow Geese, and Ross’s Geese as they rise in unison over the Rio Grande Valley.Explore the high‑elevation forests of Sandia Crest, where all three Rosy‑Finch species gather in snowy, alpine scenery.Observe an impressive lineup of winter raptors — Ferruginous Hawks, Bald Eagles, Prairie Falcons, and more — hunting across open fields and desert basins.Discover the quiet beauty of the Chihuahuan Desert and grasslands, home to Black‑throated Sparrows, Curve‑billed Thrashers, and other regional specialties.Enjoy peaceful winter birding at reservoirs like Elephant Butte and Caballo Lake, rich with grebes, mergansers, and wintering waterfowl.Take in New Mexico’s dramatic winter landscapes — from snow‑tipped mountains to golden cottonwood bosque — all within short, easy travel distances.

While we cannot guarantee sightings of the birds listed below, we believe that encountering these species is likely during this tour. Clark’s and Western GrebesFerruginous HawkGolden EaglePrairie FalconGambel’s QuailBurrowing OwlRed-naped SapsuckerWoodhouse’s Scrub JayPinyon JayBridled and Juniper TitmiceTownsend’s SolitaireSage and Crissal TrashersGreen-tailed TowheeRosy-Finch (Black, Brown-capped, Gray-crowned)American Three-toed WoodpeckerBlack-throated SparrowSagebrush SparrowBrewer’s SparrowSnow & Ross's GeeseSandhill CranePygmy NuthatchBald EagleBlack-billed MagpieCanada JayAnd many more!

TROY HIBBITTS

This tour is moderately paced (2-3 miles of daily walking) and suitable for most birders with a reasonable level of fitness. Each day involves a mix of short walks on established trails, roadside birding, and some excursions at higher elevations, such as Sandia Crest and Santa Fe Ski area. While the focus is on maximizing birding opportunities, the itinerary allows for flexibility, cultural stops, and frequent rest periods. Early mornings are common to catch key birding spectacles, and some days include travel between locations, but the overall pace balances active birding with time to enjoy the scenery and local experiences. Participants should be prepared for winter conditions, variable terrain, and some time at higher altitudes. Days generally start with breakfast at the hotel and departure for the field between 6:30 to 7:00 am. We bird throughout the morning, take a break for lunch and resume birding until around 5:00 pm followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

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The tour price is $2,920 USD per person based on double occupancy. The single supplement is $665 USD and will be applied if you request single accommodations, or if you prefer to share a room but no roommate is available and we are unable to pair you with another participant.To register for this tour, please complete an online reservation form. A non‑refundable deposit of $300 USD per person is required to secure your space. All payments—including deposits and final balances—may be made by credit card, check, money order, or bank/wire transfer (bank details will be provided).Deposits are due within 14 days of submitting your reservation form. The remaining balance is due as soon as the tour is confirmed or 60 days prior to the tour start date, whichever comes first. We will invoice you accordingly.

The tour package includes: Expert guiding service Ground transportation during the tour Entrance fees to parks and preserves Accommodations as stated in the itinerary It does not include meals, travel expenses including but not limited to airfare to and from the tour destination, travel insurance, extended stays (before and/or after the tour), alcoholic beverages, gratuities, and items/expenses of personal nature. About Meals:  Although this tour does not include meals in the tour package; all the hotels on this tour include complimentary breakfasts. Depending on the day’s route, lunches will be combination of quick “grab and-go” fast food or sit-down at a casual cafe with dinners at a local restaurant. Evenings are left open so you can choose from the restaurants near our lodging or explore local dining on your own. You are always welcome to join us for dinner. Joining the group is completely optional; your tour leader will share where they’re heading for dinner so you can join if you’d like. We will carry light snacks and water daily.

Cancellations must be submitted in writing. The following schedule applies:Cancellations made 90 days or more before the tour start date:   Full refund of payments made minus the non‑refundable per‑person deposit. As a one‑time alternative, you may transfer payments made beyond the non‑refundable deposit to another tour (subject to availability) for up to 12 months from the cancellation date. Failure to reschedule within 12 months results in forfeiture of all transferable payments. Cancellations made 89–61 days before the tour start date:   50% refund of payments made minus the non‑refundable per‑person deposit. Cancellations made 60 days or less before the tour start date:   No refund. We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your investment in the event of unexpected circumstances.For full details, please review Terms and Conditions before booking any of our tours or services. Our Terms and Conditions include important information about how we operate our tours, including cancellation policy, travel insurance, health and fitness requirements, and other essential guidelines to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.

Day 1: Arrive at Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) before 2 pm. Participants will transfer to the hotel where a room will be reserved in their name. The hotel offers complimentary shuttle service from the airport. If time allows, we will try to get in a few hours of birding at local sites before our evening orientation and dinner. Overnight: Hampton Inn & Suites Albuquerque Airport.   Day 2: Albuquerque area and Sandia Crest. Today we bird lower lying locations around Albuquerque looking for Pinyon Jay, Sagebrush Sparrow, and Juniper Titmouse before we climb up into the Sandia Mountains, ascending all the way to Sandia Crest. For those willing to brave the cold, Sandia Crest offers one of the most unique winter birding experiences in North America: the chance to see all three Rosy-Finch species—Black, Brown-capped, and Gray-crowned—at a single feeder station. These high-altitude specialties descend from alpine zones to feed, offering rare photographic and observational opportunities. The surrounding coniferous forests also host Mountain Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, and Townsend’s Solitaires, while lower elevations may yield Western Bluebirds and Red Crossbills. Overnight: Hampton Inn & Suites Albuquerque Airport.   Day 3: Bernardo Wildlife Area, Bosque Del Apache, and Socorro. Today, we leave Albuquerque and head south towards Bosque Del Apache NWR. We will bird the open lands on the way to Socorro and we’ll keep our eye out for Western Meadowlark, Crissal and Sage Thrashers, Chihuahuan Raven, Prairie Falcon, Ferruginous Hawk, Golden Eagle, and Chestnut-collared and McCown’s Longspurs. No winter birding trip to New Mexico is complete without a visit to Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Each dawn, the refuge erupts in motion as tens of thousands of Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese rise from their roosts in a synchronized ballet of sound and flight. The refuge’s mosaic of wetlands, grasslands, and cottonwood groves also hosts Northern Harrier, Vermilion Flycatcher, and a dazzling array of waterfowl including Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, Common Goldeneye, and Ring-necked Duck. Photographers and birders alike flock to Bosque for its golden light and intimate wildlife encounters. Sunset fly-ins are mesmerizing, as birds return in waves to settle for the night, silhouetted against fiery desert skies. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express, Socorro.    Day 4: Elephant Butte, Caballo Lake, and Percha Dam State Parks. These man-made lakes serve as critical stopover and wintering sites for migratory birds. Their open water, mudflats, and surrounding scrubland create a mosaic of habitat that supports over 300 species annually. We first travel south, birding Elephant Butte Reservoir, the largest man-made lake in New Mexico, where we hope to find Clark’s and Western Grebes, as well as other waterbirds and waterfowl at the lake. The desert scrub around the lake also supports a rich mix of passerines and raptors such as Cactus and Rock Wrens, Black-throated Sparrow, Phainopepla, Verdin, and Horned Lark to name a few. We then continue south to Caballo Lake and Percha Dam State Parks. Caballo’s open water and mudflats attract a variety of wintering and migrating species, including Ross’s Goose, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, and Ring-billed Gull. Percha Dam spans about 80 acres and features a mix of riparian woodland, open bosque, cultivated fields, and desert scrub. Winter birding at Percha Dam is especially rich, with a mix of resident, migratory species and wintering species such as Gambel’s Quail, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay, Pyrrhuloxia, and Black Phoebe. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express, Socorro.   Day 5: Bosque del Apache NWR to Santa Fe. We will begin our day very early, aiming to arrive at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in time to witness the breathtaking spectacle of geese and cranes taking flight at sunrise. This awe-inspiring event offers a rare opportunity to observe the synchronized movements of these birds as they rise from their roosts, filling the sky with sound and motion. After sunrise, we will continue birding throughout the Bosque del Apache area, adjusting our plans according to the weather and the presence of various bird species. The refuge's diverse habitats provide excellent opportunities for spotting winter residents and migratory waterfowl. Once our birding in Bosque del Apache is complete, we will head north through Albuquerque toward the state capitol, Santa Fe. Throughout the journey, we will stop at promising locations to observe birdlife along the route, making the most of the varied landscapes and habitats encountered. Overnight: Inn on the Alameda, Santa Fe.   Day 6: Santa Fe Area. The Sangre de Cristo Mountains are the southern sub-range of the Rocky Mountains, stretching from Santa Fe north to the Colorado border.  We will start off by driving up towards the Santa Fe Ski basin and foothills and the canyons in and around the city, we will have the opportunity to observe a wide array of species, including Mountain Bluebird, Steller’s and Canada Jays, Williamson’s Sapsucker, Pygmy Nuthatch, Red Crossbill, Hairy, Lewis’s and Acorn Woodpeckers, Clark’s Nutcracker, and perhaps Pinyon Jay and American Three-toed Woodpecker.  We will spend the late afternoon exploring some of the cultural attractions in the city of Santa Fe. Overnight: Inn on the Alameda, Santa Fe.   Day 7: Santa Fe to Albuquerque. Today, our journey takes us south as we make our way back to Albuquerque. The specific locations we visit and the pace of our travels will be shaped by the birds we have already observed and any notable species that have recently been reported along our route. This flexible approach ensures we maximize our opportunities to encounter target birds and experience the rich diversity of habitats New Mexico has to offer. We anticipate arriving in Albuquerque in the late afternoon, concluding a day focused on discovery and adapting to the ever-changing rhythms of winter birding. Overnight: Hampton Inn & Suites Albuquerque Airport.   Day 8: Tour Conclusion & Departures. The tour concludes today after some morning birding in the Albuquerque area. Airport drop-off by no later than 11 am. Participants may arrange departing flights from Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) after 1pm.